A GROUP of schoolchildren, whose friend died after being hit by a car, are today celebrating new plans to improve the road's safety.

Amber Lok, 13, was killed outside her home in Langley Road, Agecroft, in January last year as she attempted to cross the road.

A group of Amber's friends, aged seven to 16, grilled Salford councillor John Cullen, asking why more was not being done to make the road safer.

Less than two weeks later the council has agreed to invest é20,000 in traffic calming measures on the street.

East Salford Community Committee says it will also provide an additional é20,000 from its highways budget.

Emma Williams, 15, of Whitt Lane, Charlestown, who campaigned for the new measures, said: "I live round the corner from where Amber lived. I think it's great the council is taking notice of us and has realised we aren't just silly little kids.

"But it's terrible it had to take a bunch of kids shouting at Councillor Cullen for anything to be done. It should never have taken the death of a kid for the road to have been made safer."

Councillor Cullen, executive support member for planning, said he had been impressed by the children's campaign.

He said: "I would like to praise the young people involved for their safety conscious attitude. It is clear that they are extremely passionate about the issue."

Salford City Council says the improvements will be completed by April 2007. Chicanes will be installed on both sides of the road and two speed bumps placed between them.

But the Amber Project, a road safety group set up by Amber's mother Dionne Sheen in memory of her daughter, says more could be done now to improve the road's safety.

Project member Parrise Woods-Ward, 10, of Ascot Walk, Charlestown, saw Amber just before she was hit by the car.

She said: "Every night there is a car speeding up and down the road. We don't feel safe crossing, so it's really good the council is going to do something.

"But April is a long time away, and I don't think they are doing enough to make us safe now."

Salford Council bosses have also donated a kitchen to the Amber Project on Douglas Green, Charlestown.